HEALTH
NOT COVID?
The average American, after all, gets two to three colds a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Most colds last only three to five days, but you can still be congested or have a cough for up to two weeks. The trouble is, colds can linger longer or get worse as a result of lifestyle habits and behaviors, including those you might otherwise have thought were healthy. Have you made any of these mistakes?
Mistake #1: Not backing off your intensity at the gym.
Exercise can be a mental godsend when you’re sick, lifting your spirits at the very least. But don’t take this as permission to give it your all when you’re sick, or you could make yourself worse. If you have a fever, cough, chest congestion or upset stomach, hold off on all exercise until those symptoms resolve.
Mistake #2: Telling yourself you’re not sick. If you’ve always subscribed to the mind-over-matter philosophy when it comes to recovering from colds, give it up. Pretending you’re not sick might not encourage you to dial back your activities, which means you could overexert yourself, thus making symptoms worse and delaying recovery.
Mistake #3: Skimping on sleep.
Sleep might sink to the bottom of your regular to-do list—the CDC reports that one in three Americans don’t get the sleep they need—but when you’re sick, sleep becomes even more critical. Inadequate sleep can reduce the function of the immune system and prolong recovery from colds. The problem is, cold symptoms like coughing and congestion can keep you awake when you’re trying to sleep. If that’s the case, try using over-the-counter medications to sleep better.
Mistake #4: Overusing decongestants. Decongestants can certainly make you feel better, and even sleep better, which can shorten the course of your cold. Using a nasal decongestant for longer than one or two days, however, could spell trouble. When used beyond three days, experts say typical decongestant nasal sprays can make your congestion worse.
18
THE GRAND SEASON • JANUARY 2022
WWW.THEGRANDSEASON.COM WWW.THEGRANDSEASON.COM
